Studying the spatiotemporal evolution of carbon emissions from the perspective of major function-oriented zones (MFOZs) is crucial for making a carbon reduction policy. However, most previous research has ignored the spatial characteristics and MFOZ influence. Using statistical and spatial analysis tools, we explored the spatiotemporal characteristics of carbon emissions in Guangdong Province from 2001 to 2021. The following results were obtained: (1) Carbon emissions fluctuated from 2020 to 2021 because of COVID-19. (2) Over the last 20 years, the proportion of carbon emissions from urbanization development zones (UDZs) has gradually decreased, whereas those of the main agricultural production zones (MAPZs) and key ecological function zones (KEFZs) have increased. (3) Carbon emissions efficiency differed significantly among the three MFOZs. (4) Carbon emissions from coastal UDZs were increasingly apparent; however, the directional characteristics of MAPZ and KEFZ emissions were not remarkable. (5) Carbon transfer existed among the three kinds of MFOZs, resulting in the economy and carbon emissions being considerably misaligned across Guangdong Province. These results indicated that the MFOZ is noteworthy in revealing how carbon emissions evolved. Furthermore, spatiotemporal characteristics, especially spatial characteristics, can help formulate carbon reduction policies for realizing carbon peak and neutrality goals in Guangdong Province.

Previous allocations of new urban land were ineffective because they lacked synergy between quota and space, challenging the government planning authority. This study proposes a new and more reasonable urban land allocation method to guide the smart growth of cities. We used a logistic regression model and multisource data to explore the laws of urban growth and employed a cellular automata (CA) model to simulate this under inertial and constrained scenarios. In addition, the disparities between both scenarios concerning allocation were analyzed. We realized the synergy of quota and space allocations of new urban land through urban growth simulation. Further, the allocation of new urban land was more consistent with the development strategy of Guangzhou under a constrained scenario. The allocation of space was more regular and concentrated under a constrained scenario, which aligns with the requirements of the Government Land Space Planning. Additionally, in the constrained scenario, the bottom lines of cultivated land protection, ecological service, and geological safety were better controlled. This study compensated for the shortcomings of the disjoined quota and space allocations of new urban land and proved that a constrained scenario can more effectively promote reasonable urban growth.